‘MISSING’ LANAO SUR POLICE OFFICER FOUND

BY MASIDING NOOR YAHYA

April 7, 2019

MARAWI CITY: Corporal Gilbert Males, the police officer who was reported missing after a firefight which stemmed from an operation in Madamba, Lanao del Sur, has resurfaced and been reunited with his troops. 

Col. Madzgani Mukaram, Lanao del Sur Police Provincial Office chief, said Madamba local officials and the police safely turned over Males on Friday afternoon to his office. 

Males was one of the police operatives who served the warrant of arrest on Wednesday in Barangay Ilian against five suspects for murder, which resulted in a firefight.

Killed in the clash were suspects Usop Malubay Abdulazis, Zainoden Moro Macalantas Ameril and Alican Macabuntal alias MkigUsman, and civilianCasara Macalantas who was not included in the arrest warrant. 

The suspects are believed to be members of the Moro Islamic Liberation Front which now leads the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. 

The police added that the eight other operatives and two civilians, who were wounded in the crossfire are now in stable condition. 

It was said that at the height of the firefight Males, while tactically maneuvering, was chased by the suspects’ companions. 

He was separated from the team and failed to regroup with his troop.

At dawn of April 5, local folk saw Males hiding among the bushes near the road and helped him change into civilian clothes to hide his identity for fear that supporters of the suspects might see him. 

A former town councilor later brought Males to the house of the Madamba mayor who turned him over to provincial police headquarters. (The Manila Times)